Psychological adjustment of children with cancer: relapse and survival perspectives / Ajustamento psicológico de crianças com câncer: perspectivas da recidiva e da remissão / Ajuste psicológico de niños con cáncer: perspectivas de recaída y supervivencia

In Brazil, few studies have investigated the psychological aspects of childhood cancer. The aim of this article was to compare the psychological adjustment of children with cancer from different survival perspectives with that of children without cancer, besides examining potential risk factors. The sample consisted of 179 participants (6-14 years-old) recruited in two Brazilian public hospitals and three schools, and divided in three groups (relapsed, survivors and control). Children answered orally the self-reported Behavior Assessment Scale for Children, the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and Piers-Harris' Self-Concept Scale. No differences were found between groups regarding school and clinical maladjustment, personal adjustment, emotional symptoms and self-concept. Findings also showed positive associations between psychological maladjustment and gender, younger age, lower household income, single parenthood and lower levels of parental education. Conclusions indicate that children with cancer adapt well to the disease and do not present more psychological problems than controls (AU).

No Brasil, poucos estudos investigaram os aspectos psicológicos do câncer infantil. O objetivo deste artigo foi comparar o ajustamento psicológico de crianças com câncer com diferentes perspectivas de sobrevivência com o de crianças sem câncer, além de examinar potenciais fatores de risco. A amostra consistiu em 179 participantes (6-14 anos de idade) recrutados em dois hospitais públicos e três escolas brasileiras. As crianças responderam oralmente à Escala de Avaliação Comportamental para Crianças, à Escala de Ansiedade Manifesta para Crianças Revisada e à Escala de Autoconceito Piers-Harris. Não foram constatadas diferenças entre os grupos com relação ao desajustamento clínico e escolar, ajustamento pessoal, sintomas emocionais e autoconceito. Os resultados também mostraram associações positivas entre o desajustamento psicológico e gênero, menor idade, menor renda, famílias monoparentais e menor nível educacional parental. As conclusões indicam que crianças com câncer se adaptam bem à doença e não apresentam mais problemas psicológicos que as do grupo controle (AU).

Na Brasil, pocos estudios han investigado los aspectos psicológicos del cáncer infantil. El objetivo de este artículo fue comparar el ajuste psicológico de niños na cáncer na diferentes perspectivas de supervivencia na el de niños sin cáncer, además de examinar los posibles factores de riesgo. La muestra consistió en 179 participantes (6-14 años de edad) reclutados en dos hospitales públicos y tres escuelas brasileñas. Los niños contestaron oralmente a la Escala de Evaluación del Comportamiento del Niño, la Escala Revisada de Ansiedad Manifiesta en Niños y la Escala de Autoconcepto de Piers-Harris. No se constataron diferencias entre los grupos con respeto al desajuste clínico y escolar, el ajuste personal, los síntomas emocionales y el autoconcepto. Los resultados también mostraron asociaciones positivas entre el desajuste psicológico y el género, la menor edad, la menor renta, las familias monoparentales y el nivel educativo parental más bajo. Las conclusiones señalan que niños con cáncer se adaptan bien a la enfermedad y no presentan más problemas psicológicos que los del grupo de control (AU).

Psychological Adjustment of Parents of Children with Different Cancer Prognoses / Ajustamento Psicológico de Pais de Crianças com Diferentes Prognósticos de Câncer / Ajuste Psicológico de Padres de Niños con Distintos Pronósticos de Cáncer

Abstract Little is known about the psychological adjustment of parents of children with cancer relapse or remission. This study investigated differences in the psychological adjustment of caregivers of children with different cancer prognosis, by comparing them with a control group. In total, 183 caregivers participated in this study: those with children in relapse/on treatment (n = 32), remission/off treatment (n = 75), and "healthy" (n = 76). The Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, the Symptom Check list-90-R, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire-Reviewed and the Family Environment Scale were analyzed with Variance Analysis, Student's t-test, Chi-square and Pearson correlations. The results showed that parents of children with cancer relapse presented less psychological adjustment. Furthermore, a protective effect of family cohesion and possible risk factors related to sociodemographic variables were observed. Conclusions highlight the convenience of developing specific interventions for parents of children with cancer relapse.

Resumo Pouco se sabe sobre o ajustamento psicológico de pais de crianças em recidiva de câncer e em remissão. Este estudo investigou diferenças no ajustamento psicológico de cuidadores de crianças com diferentes prognósticos de câncer, comparando-os com um grupo controle. Os participantes foram 183 cuidadores de crianças em recidiva/tratamento (n = 32), remissão/fora de tratamento (n = 75) e "saudáveis" (n = 76). Os Inventários Beck de Depressão e Ansiedade, a Escala de Avaliação de Sintomas 90-R, o Questionário Norbeck de apoio social-revisado e a Family Environment Scale foram analisados com análises de variância, t de Student, Qui-quadrado e correlações de Pearson. Os resultados mostraram que os pais de crianças em recidiva apresentaram menos ajustamento psicológico. Além disto, observou-se um efeito protetor da coesão familiar e possíveis fatores de risco relacionados a variáveis sociodemográficas. Discute-se a conveniência de desenvolver intervenções psicológicas para pais de crianças em recidiva de câncer.

Resumen Poco se conoce sobre el ajuste psicológico de padres de niños en recidiva de cáncer y en remisión. Este estudio investigó las diferencias en el ajuste psicológico de cuidadores de niños con distintos pronósticos de cáncer, comparándolos con un grupo control. Participaron 183 cuidadores de niños en recidiva/en tratamiento (n = 32), remisión/sin tratamiento (n = 75) y "sanos" (n = 76). Se analizaron los Inventarios de Depresión y Ansiedad de Beck, la Escala de Síntomas 90-R, el Cuestionario Norbeck de Apoyo Social Revisado y la Family Environment Scale mediante análisis de varianza, prueba t de Student, test de chi-cuadrado y correlaciones de Pearson. Los resultados mostraron que los padres de niños en recidiva presentaban menos ajuste psicológico. Además, se observó un efecto protector de la cohesión familiar y posibles factores de riesgo relacionados a variables sociodemográficas. Se discute la conveniencia de desarrollar intervenciones psicológicas para padres de niños en recidiva de cáncer.

Impulsive Driving: Definition and Measurement Using the I-Driving Scale (IDS).

Impulsivity has been widely studied in the context of traffic. The trait is believed to be the root of some accidents, along with other variables like aggression and anger. The present research objective is to develop a new scale - the I-Driving Scale (IDS) - to evaluate and measure the construct of impulsivity in specific driving situations. To that end, two studies were conducted, with 162 and 107 participants, respectively. In both studies, participants were recruited via their social networks, and answered anonymously. In addition to the IDS, they completed the Use the Vehicle to Express Anger subscale of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory (DAX), the Driving Anger Scale (DAS), and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS11), and also provided demographic information. The final scale had 11 items falling into two factors: impatience, and aggressiveness/abruptness. The results show a high consistency (αT = .81, αI = .70, and αA = .85 in the first study; αT = .83, αI = .80, and αA = .88 in the second study). Statistical results of Exploratory Factor Analysis in the first sample indicated goodness of fit to a two-factor model (RMSR = .057, GFI = .98). The second study confirmed that factorial structure (χ2/df = 80.50/43 = 1.87, RMSEA = .088, CFI = .94, TLI = .92). Correlations with other measures indicated the Impatience subscale is associated with different expressions of anger behind the wheel, and directly correlated with the loss of driver's license points. Furthermore, the Aggressiveness or Abruptness subscale was associated with more mechanical aspects, and correlated inversely with age.

Impulsive driving: definition and measurement using the I-driving scale (IDS)

Impulsivity has been widely studied in the context of traffic. The trait is believed to be the root of some accidents, along with other variables like aggression and anger. The present research objective is to develop a new scale -the I-Driving Scale (IDS)- to evaluate and measure the construct of impulsivity in specific driving situations. To that end, two studies were conducted, with 162 and 107 participants, respectively. In both studies, participants were recruited via their social networks, and answered anonymously. In addition to the IDS, they completed the Use the Vehicle to Express Anger subscale of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory (DAX), the Driving Anger Scale (DAS), and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS11), and also provided demographic information. The final scale had 11 items falling into two factors: impatience, and aggressiveness/abruptness. The results show a high consistency (αT = .81, αI = .70, and αA = .85 in the first study; αT = .83, αI = .80, and αA = .88 in the second study). Statistical results of Exploratory Factor Analysis in the first sample indicated goodness of fit to a two-factor model (RMSR = .057, GFI = .98). The second study confirmed that factorial structure (χ2/df = 80.50/43 = 1.87, RMSEA = .088, CFI = .94, TLI = .92). Correlations with other measures indicated the Impatience subscale is associated with different expressions of anger behind the wheel, and directly correlated with the loss of driver's license points. Furthermore, the Aggressiveness or Abruptness subscale was associated with more mechanical aspects, and correlated inversely with age (AU)

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Psychological distress in women with breast and gynecological cancer treated with radical surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to compare psychological distress (body image disturbance,self-esteem, depression, and anxiety) in women with breast or gynecological cancer treated by radical surgery. Additionally, another objective is to analyze the association between psychological distress and sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and social support to produce a prediction model for the outcome measures. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 100 women who had undergone radical surgery for breast or gynecological cancer. Both groups were divided into the following: younger than 50 years old and 50 years old or older. Body Image Scale, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used. RESULTS: Age had a significant main effect on psychological distress but the type of cancer did not.Younger women showed significantly greater distress than older women (p-values<0.001). A significant interaction between age and type of cancer was found, indicating that older women with breast cancer had worse body image and more depression than those with gynecological cancer (p-values 0.001); no significant differences were found between younger groups.The prediction model for increased body image disturbance and depression included the joint effect of the following variables: being younger, inactive occupational status, and post-adjuvant therapy side effects. For lower self-esteem, the variables were: being younger, post-adjuvant therapy side effects,and dissatisfaction with social support. And for higher anxiety, the sole variable included was post-adjuvant therapy side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Both mastectomy and hysterectomy/oophorectomy cause similar psychological distress in younger women, but mastectomy causes greater distress in older women than hysterectomy/oophorectomy.

The effects of counting blessings on subjective well-being: a gratitude intervention in a spanish sample

This study examined a gratitude intervention repeating Emmons and McCullough study (2003) in a Spanish sample. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (gratitude, hassles and any event) and kept daily records during 2 weeks of gratitude, affect, quality of relationships, physical and subjective well-being. We added design features to assess the intervention long-term impact (follow-up measures), and to improve the design control (pre-treatment measures). Following the cited authors’ analysis, i.e., comparing groups only in the post-test, we replicated their results, finding differences in positive affect and gratitude between the gratitude condition and the hassles condition. However, when including both the pre and the follow-up measures in the analysis, results were replicated only partially, as the difference in gratitude disappeared. Moreover, the difference in positive affect between groups in the post-test seemed to be influenced mainly by a decrease in positive affect in the hassles group. Post-test differences between groups in positive affect disappeared in the follow-up. Gratitude interventions may have an effect on well-being, but we consider other methods to promote gratitude besides gratitude journals should be tested (AU)

Este estudio examina una intervención en gratitud repitiendo el estudio de Emmons y McCullough (2003) en una muestra española. Los participantes fueron asignados de manera aleatoria a una de tres posibles condiciones (gratitud, escollos y cualquier suceso) y evaluaron diariamente durante dos semanas la gratitud, el afecto, la calidad de las relaciones, el bienestar físico y el bienestar subjetivo. Añadimos nuevos aspectos al diseño para evaluar el impacto de la intervención a largo plazo (medidas de seguimiento) y para mejorar el control (medidas pretest). Al hacer los mismos análisis que los autores previamente citados, es decir, al comparar los grupos sólo en el postest, replicamos sus resultados, ya que encontramos diferencias en afecto positivo y en gratitud entre el grupo de gratitud y el grupo de los escollos. Sin embargo, cuando incluimos las medidas pretest y las de seguimiento en el análisis, replicamos los resultados sólo de manera parcial, ya que la diferencia en gratitud desapareció. Además, la diferencia en afecto positivo entre los grupos en el postest parecía estar influida principalmente por un descenso en afecto positivo en el grupo de escollos. Las diferencias entre los grupos en afecto positivo en el postest desaparecieron en el seguimiento. Las intervenciones basadas en la gratitud pueden tener un efecto sobre el bienestar, pero consideramos que se deberían investigar otros métodos aparte de los diarios de gratitud (AU)

The effects of counting blessings on subjective well-being: a gratitude intervention in a Spanish sample.

This study examined a gratitude intervention repeating Emmons and McCullough study (2003) in a Spanish sample, Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (gratitude, hassles and any event) and kept daily records during 2 weeks of gratitude, affect, quality of relationships, physical and subjective well-being. We added design features to assess the intervention long-term impact (follow-up measures), and to improve the design control (pre-treatment measures). Following the cited authors' analysis, i.e., comparing groups only in the post-test, we replicated their results, finding differences in positive affect and gratitude between the gratitude condition and the hassles condition. However, when including both the pre and the follow-up measures in the analysis, results were replicated only partially, as the difference in gratitude disappeared. Moreover, the difference in positive affect between groups in the post-test seemed to be influenced mainly by a decrease in positive affect in the hassles group. Post-test differences between groups in positive affect disappeared in the follow-up. Gratitude interventions may have an effect on well-being, but we consider other methods to promote gratitude besides gratitude journals should be tested.

[Serial dependence in the estimation of a car's arrival time]. / Dependencia serial en la estimación del tiempo de llegada de un coche.

Serial dependence of a car's arrival time. We have studied the sequential structure of data in the arrival- time estimations. Forty participants estimated the arrival-time of a vehicle under two experimental conditions: real car and video-image. Various time series regression models were fit to our data, and residuals autocorrelations were computed. For each serial-dependence model, data were fit to three functions, namely, power, logarithmic, and linear. In both experimental conditions, the response magnitude (R) on a given trial in t was a function of the stimulus intensity (S) in such a trial (t) and of the S and R on t-1 and t-2. Assimilation effect to the previous responses and contrast effect to the previous stimuli has been found.